Cap construction



Feb. 15, 1966 B. K. TABBAT CAP CONSTRUCTION Filed July 19, 1963 INVENTOR BE RTA K. TABBAT AT-TOR NEYS. 5

Unite States Patent Ofifice 3,234,563 Patented Feb. 15, 1966 3,234,563 CAP CONSTRUCTION Berta K. Tabbat, 314 W. 77th St., New York, N.Y. Filed July 19, 1963, Ser. No. 296,246 Claims. (Cl. 2-171) This invention relates in general to a cap construction, and more particularly to a cap construction specifically adapted for use in a shower bath or as rainwear to protect the head, face and neck.

In taking a shower bath, women generally wear a shower cap in order to prevent their hair from becoming wet. However, the known shower cap constructions have never completely prevented water from seeping under the border of the cap and partially wetting the hair. They also afford little or no protection to the face and neck of the bather. As a result the shower spray and water running down the head of the bather would often temporarily blind or cause the bather to close her eyes. In a tub shower, this can prove hazardous, since one can easily lose her balance when her eyes are closed. Also, women frequently wish to keep their eye and facial makeup from being marred by the water. This has been impossible to accomplish with any hitherto known shower cap design.

Therefore it is an object of this invention to provide a shower cap which will not only keep ones hair entirely dry during a shower, but will also prohibit the shower spray or drippings from going into ones eyes, and to protect the facial makeup from being marred by water.

Another object is to provide an improved shower cap which can be folded and stored in a neat, compact manner.

It is another object of this invention to provide a shower cap which will automatically assume its operative, protective position as it is placed on ones head.

Still another object is to provide an improved shower cap, which can also be satisfactory for outdoor use and double for use as a rain hat.

Still another object is to provide a cap construction which, when made of a porous fabric, provides a cooling, folding, pocket-portable sunbonnet and coiffure protector.

Still another object is to provide women with a functional cap that is also flattering to the face and is aesthetically superior to the conventional, shapeless shower and rain caps.

Still another object is to provide a shower and/ or rain cap which can be readily folded and unfolded in the nature of an umbrella.

Still another object is to provide a shower cap which is foldable in the nature of an umbrella, yet requires no umbrella frame.

In accordance with this invention, the foregoing objects, features and other advantages are attained by a shower cap comprising essentially a flaccid head receiving portion formed of a water impervious material constructed to embrace the head. Shielding the head receiving portion is a covering sheet which has its peripheral portions extending beyond the head receiving portion, which covering sheet directs the stream of water outward and away from the head and face. The arrangement is such that the top of the head receiving portion is secured directly to the central portion of the covering sheet. Means in the form of radially extending stiifners are connected to the covering sheet; thus enabling it to be folded in the nature of an umbrella for storing. A loop is connected to the covering sheet to permit hanging the cap when not in use, and as a decorative feature.

A feature of this invention resides in the provision that the shower cap is relatively simple in construction, positive in operation, and inexpensive to fabricate.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent when considered in view of the drawings and description in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the shower cap of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the cap construction taken along line 22 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 3 illustrates a plan view of the cap when unfolded;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the cap in its folded position; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of a folded cap holder.

Referring to the drawings, the shower cap 10 of this invention comprises a head receiving portion 11 and a cover or shielding sheet 12. The head receiving portion 11 is formed of a suitable flaccid, water impervious or repellent material such as plastic or the like. The shape of the head receiving portion 11 is such that is can securely fit the head and cover ones hair, but be of suitably large proportion so as to not tightly engage the hair and hence crush it to ruin or mar the cofiure. An elastic band 13 may be provided to circumscribe the peripheral edge portion of the head portion 11 so that it may secure the same close to ones head at the base of ones hairline, although the head receiving portion 11 may be split in which event Velcro or other securing means may be used.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cover or shield sheet 12 is also formed of a relatively thin sheet of flaccid water impervious material or plastic. The sheet 12 is preferably adhesively secured to the head receiving portion 11. In accordance with this invention, the center portion of the head receiving portion 11 is secured directly to the center portion of the covering sheet 12 as at 14.

A plurality of radially extending stiffening ribs 15 are provided to act as automatic extending and contracting mechanisms for the shielding sheet 12. The ribs, although they may have some flexibility, are quite stiff and are made of suitable material such as, for example, metal or plastic. As shown herein each of the ribs 15 is slightly shorter than the radius of the sheet 12 and extends from a point quite close to the peripheral edge of the sheet 12 inwardly to a point spaced from the center of the circular sheet 12. The ribs may be secured to the sheet 12 in any desired Way such as gluing, welding or the like. However, as is presently preferred, the outer edge of the sheet 12 is bent back on itself to form a marginal edge portion 16 which marginal edge portion is secured to the main part of the sheet 12 as by gluing or heat sealing except for areas 17 which form pockets for receiving the outer edges of the ribs 15. In the central area of the sheet 12 a flaccid disc 18 is located and is also secured at spaced intervals 19 to the sheet 12 as by gluing or heat sealing to form pockets 20 between the disc 19 and the sheet 12 to receive the inner ends of the reinforcing ribs 15. Thus the reinforcing ribs may be readily applied to and removed from the covering sheet 12 to thereby facilitate manufacture and repair.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 to 3 and 4, it will be noted that because the material of the covering sheet 12 and head receiving portion 11 are flaccid, the cap 14] automatically folds, in the nature of an umbrella, between operative and inoperative positions. With the construction described it will be apparent that the covering sheet 12 will automatically unfold as the head receiving portion is fittted to ones head. This is due to ones head causing the ribs 15 to spread. Thus in the operative position of the cap 10 the perimeter of the shielding or cover piece 12 will extend laterally beyond the head receiving portion 11, and thus prohibits the shower spray or drippings from falling on ones face or in ones eyes, since the water impinging on the covering shield 12 will run away from the user.

When taken off, the shower cap 10 automatically folds in the nature of an umbrella and can be hung, in its collapsed state, by means of a loop L connected to the covering sheet. In the alternative to hanging up the collapsed shower cap as illustrated in FIG. 4, the collapsed shower cap 10 may be placed in a conically shaped cap holder 21 having a loop 22 affixed to the top thereof and the cap holder may be employed to hang up the cap or as a covering when the cap is being carried either by hand or in a ladies handbag or the like. The cap holder 21 is also made of flaccid sheet material such as plastic sheet and may be decorated in any desired fashion as is well known in the art.

While the cap 10 has been described with reference to use as a shower cap, it will be realized that the cap 10 can also be equally useful as a rain hat. In its folded position it can be easily carried in a womans purse or pocket. Thus when used as a rain hat, it will afford the wearer substantial protection about the face and head. Being frameless, the entire cap can be formed of readily inexpensive plastic or water repellent material.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference to a particular embodiment thereof, it will be appreciated that Variations and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

in covering relation with substantially all of ones hair,

(b) a sheet of flaccid covering material secured to the top of the head embracing means,

(0) said sheet having a diameter greater than that of the head embracing means,

(d) a series of radially extending ribs connected at their one ends to said sheet in the vicinity of the connection of said sheet to said head embracing means and connected at their other ends to said sheet adjacent the periphery thereof,

(c) said ribs causing said sheet of covering material to spread when the head embracing means is disposed about ones head.

2. A collapsible shower cap comprising:

(a) a flaccid water impervious sheet means for embracing ones head in covering relation with substantially all of ones hair,

(b) a circular cover sheet of flaccid material secured to the top of said head embracing sheet means and being of greater radial extent than said head embrac- A ing means,

(c) said cover sheet of material being adapted to fold between a folded collapsed position in which the head embracing sheet means is disposed within the folds of said cover sheet and an operative spread position cover sheet and extending radially thereof from adjacent the center of said cover sheet to adjacent the periphery thereof,

(e) said ribs having their respective inner ends spaced from one another, and

(f) said ribs functioning to automatically spread said cover sheet when the head embracing sheet means is placed on ones head.

3. A collapsible shower cap comprising:

(a) a head receiving means formed of a single sheet of water impervious material for embracing ones head in surrounding relation with substantially all of the hair on said head,

(b) an elastic band secured to the periphery of said head receiving means and adapted to snugly fit ones head,

(c) a cover sheet of flaccid water impervious material secured to the top of said head receiving means. said cover sheet being of greater radius than said head receiving means,

(d) said cover sheet defining a conically shaped cover shield for said head receiving means,

(e) said cover sheet being readily foldable in the nature of an umbrella between open and closed positions whereby in the folded position the head receiving means is disposed within the folds of said cover sheet,

(f) and means for stiffening said cover sheet,

(g) said means including a plurality of radially extending ribs, the inner ends of the respective ribs being slightly spaced from the center point of said cover sheet,

(h) and means for releasably securing said ribs to said covering sheet.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 and including:

(a) a hanging loop connected to the center of said covering sheet to facilitate hanging said cap when not in use. 7

5. The shower cap of claim 3, wherein said means for releasably securing said ribs to said covering sheet comprises a plurality of pockets on said covering sheet adjacent the center thereof and a plurality of pockets on said covering sheet adjacent the peripheral edge thereof for releasably securing the ends of said ribs.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 606,982 7/1898 Smyth 2 177 2,140,647 12/1938 Myers 2 177 2,677,132 5/1954 Marks 2 177 3,020,555 2/1962 Taylor 2 177 3,051,960 9/1962 Rendulich 268 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,157,780 6/1958 France.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Examiner. 

1. A CAP COMPRISING: (A) WATER IMPERVIOUS MEANS FOR EMBRACING ONE''S HEAD IN COVERING RELATION WITH SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF ONE''S HAIR, (B) A SHEET OF FLACCID COVERING MATERIAL SECURED TO THE TOP OF THE HEAD EMBRACING MEANS, (C) SAID SHEET HAVING A DIAMETER GREATER THAN THAT OF THE HEAD EMBRACING MEANS, (D) A SERIES OF RADIALLY EXTENDING RIBS CONNECTED AT THEIR ONE ENDS TO SAID SHEET IN THE VICINITY OF THE CONNECTION OF SAID SHEET TO SAID HEAD EMBRACING MEANS AND CONNECTED AT THEIR OTHER ENDS TO SAID SHEET ADJACENT THE PERIPHERY THEREOF, CONNECTION OF SAID SHEET TO SAID HEAD EMBRACING SPREAD WHEN THE HEAD EMBRACING MEANS IS DISPOSED ABOUT ONE''S HEAD. 